Racing:Jumbo Rio stole the show on the final day of the Punchestown Festival with a redoubtable display in the Ballymore Champion Four Year Old Hurdle. The well-backed 5-2 shot, last seen finishing ninth in the Triumph Hurdle at Cheltenham, got the better of Willie Mullins' Mourad in an absorbing renewal of this Grade One contest.
Andrew McNamara produced his mount at the right time and held on by four lengths from the fast-finishing runner-up.
Winning trainer, Edward O’Grady, said: “Things didn’t go right for him in Cheltenham — he got kicked at the start and Ebaziyan didn’t help when he ran out.
“He did a nice bit of work before he came here and he was very lucky the faller didn’t take him out. He will go on all ground, except firm.”
Mullins extended his weekly Punchestown tally to a jaw-dropping 12 winners when Sesenta landed the Whitewater Shopping Centre Handicap Hurdle.
Given a textbook ride from Ruby Walsh, himself securing a tenth Festival scorer, the 6-1 winner had a length and a quarter in reserve of Faltering Fullback at the line.
Mullins said: “We may bring her back to the Flat now. There is a race in Auteuil coming up in a few weeks’ time and we might take her there.”
Ambobo (11-1) returned to prominence with success in the Victor Chandler.com Pat Taaffe Handicap Chase.
Despite unseating rider when a 50-1 shot for the Irish National at Fairyhouse last time, Martin Brassil’s inmate was not without support and duly stayed-on strongly to beat Vic Venturi by a length and a quarter in the hands of Niall Madden.
Brassil said: “Ambobo looked to be getting into contention in the Irish National when exiting at the sixth-last fence. It was very frustrating, but we gained compensation today.”
Voler La Vedette showed a touch of class to win the Grade Three Irish TBA EBF Mares Hurdle. The 8-1 winner was a chance ride for Sean Flanagan, who was deputising for the injured Barry Geraghty, who could be out of action for up six weeks after sustaining a
broken wrist on Friday.
Trainer Colm Murphy said: “She will run in the better races next season, and she goes on heavy and quick ground.”
Baby Run struck gold for Nigel Twiston-Davies in the Cox’s Cash & Carry Champion Hunters Chase. The 4-1 scorer was ridden by Sam Twiston-Davies, son of the winning trainer.
Nigel Twiston-Davies, who also owns Baby Run, said: “This race was always the plan after he ran at Cheltenham — the prize-money is just so good in comparison to hunter chases in England. The horse will run in the Horse and Hound Cup at Stratford next.”
Freneys Well provided Enda Bolger with yet another victory over the Punchestown banks course in the Irish Field Chase.
Ridden by Nina Carberry and owned by JP McManus, the 5-1 shot asserted full authority on proceedings after the second-last to defeat Berkley by 19 lengths.
The unplaced Wedger Pardy, a winner here on Tuesday, was travelling supremely well half a mile from home, but lost all momentum after two loose horses ran amok.
Bolger said: “We were a little disappointed with him when he finished fourth earlier this week, but his rider, JT McNamara, advised us to try cheekpieces with him and they seemed to have worked.”
Brog An Ri (5-1) showed good late speed to win the concluding O’Hare, O’Connor, Walshe Solicitors-sponsored bumper.
RESULTS
1:10
1st Freneys Well (N Carberry) 5/1
2nd Berkley (J R Barry) 33/1
3rd Loggan Lass (Mr A J Walsh) 25/1
1:45
1st Voler La Vedette (SW Flanagan) 8/1
2nd Shirley Casper (P W Flood) 14/1
3rd Handfull Of Eur (D Condon) 25/1
2:20
1st Baby Run (Mr S T-Davies) 4/1
2nd Agus A Vic (Mr BT O'Connell) 2/1
3rd Whyso Mayo (Mr CJ Sweeney) 10/1
2:55
1st Jumbo Rio (AJ McNamara) 5/2
2nd Mourad (R Walsh) 11/10
3rd The Fist Of God (P Carberry) 10/1
3:30
1st Ambobo (NP Madden) 11/1
2nd Vic Venturi (W Flood) 20/1
3rd Arbor Supreme (R Walsh) 11/2
4th Nenuphar Collonges (R Thornton) 8/1
4:05
1st Sesenta (R Walsh) 6/1
2nd Faltering Fullb (AP Cawley) 16/1
3rd Taravada (AD Leigh) 12/1
4th Essex (C O'Farrell) 12/1
4:35
1st Brog An Ri (Mr BT O'Connell) 5/1
2nd Itdosnot Bother (Mr RP Quinlan) 16/1
3rd Old Charm (Mr JT Carroll 20/1)
5:05
1st Kerzak (Mr CC O'Rourke) 14/1
2nd Platium Starlig (Mr L Grendon) 25/1
3rd Cherry Eile (Mr D McCaul) 20/1